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Are we too old?


Dizz

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1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

It just seems to be a little odd when the OP says "we want to be in a residential marina" that the dicussion go on about online moorings with no electric, etc etc.

 

But they also said that they wanted to watch the water and wild life. I would suggest that there are few places in any given marina where that is readily available because for most boats they will have another boat close by across the pontoon or on the next pontoon. That just leaves the bow or stern windows to get a good view of open water. If the view and wildlife are important, then the OP may have to accept an online mooring or decide being in a marina is more important and forgo the view. It is just an option to achieve what they say they want. that is all.

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1 minute ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

But they also said that they wanted to watch the water and wild life. I would suggest that there are few places in any given marina where that is readily available because for most boats they will have another boat close by across the pontoon or on the next pontoon. That just leaves the bow or stern windows to get a good view of open water. If the view and wildlife are important, then the OP may have to accept an online mooring or decide being in a marina is more important and forgo the view. It is just an option to achieve what they say they want. that is all.

 

Precisely why I mentioned on line moorings.

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20 hours ago, Dizz said:

Hi all,would appreciate as much advice as possible please…..

Im 62,reasonable fitness ,hubby is 65,quite fit.We are considering selling up and buying a widebeam which would be moored in a residential marina,We aren’t interested in travelling very far,if at all.I’ve always wanted to live aboard but it’s taken me ages to persuade hubby.I just love the idea of looking out the window or sitting on the boat looking at water and it’s wildlife instead of a grotty little side street.We have a large dog too.We know very little ourselves but do have a friend who lives on a widebeam who could help us out when needed.But I worry we may be too old as I read it’s more physically demanding than living in a house.We would be spending around 120,000 to 130,000 so would expect it to have most mod cons. It will cost us more than at present as we have no mortgage but I’m more interested in wether you think we may struggle due to being older .Thankyou for any advice

 

I guess my first thought is, 'Don't live on a boat unless you really want to live on a boat'. Not only can they make a fine and quirky home, but they can take you to lovely, quiet, environmentally rich backwaters teeming with wildlife, that no other craft can get you to. On a wide beam or narrowboat you stand knee-deep in water. When you open a hatch you can easily reach out and touch the surface, feed eight ducks, or fight off a swan stealing toast from your breakfast table. It's very intimate ... and very watery.

 

This lifestyle is quite different from living in a tent, cabin, caravan, motorhome, apartment or semi. And unless you can afford a fine, rural riverside or lakeside mooring with an extensive view -- and, handily, with its own jetty, water tap, electric hookup and nearby pump-out -- I'd think three times before committing yourselves to a marina mooring. Why limit your enjoyment and shot at an adventurous lifestyle that can come so easily and uniquely come with living on a boat? Just say'n.

 

As others have said, hire a narrowboat (or a wide beam) a couple of times and get a feel for what it's like. If that inspires you, have a look at a few second hand wide beams -- different layouts, by different builders. You could get a heck of a lot more boat (or technology, or comfort) for your money. If you can restrict yourself to 10.5 feet wide, you'll have a much more manoeuvrable boat. (This is probably contentious, but there you have it.)

 

Age-wise, I think you are as old as you feel. And only you can know what that is. Certainly happy liveaboard boat owners come in all ages, from teenagers to those in their 90s. If you feel fit, you're fine. We're now in our late 60s and still enjoy the 'extra physical activity' that comes with boat life: shifting coal, servicing engines, painting cabin sides, transporting a week's worth of groceries half a mile down the towpath, securing drinking water by the gerry can when you're stuck on 'red boards'. But we have also had our share of health issues that raise challenges. At least we haven't both been incapacitated at the same time, as that would make this floating lark very difficult indeed. So, something to think about.

 

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When we moored in a marina we usually moored nose in. At least when we did that we could sit on the semi trad stern and look out over some open water. Mooring stern in meant we just looked at the back or front of other boats moored on pontoons over the walkway. The front well deck was enclosed.

 

No need to concern ourselves which way around we were moored on an online mooring. Either way worked.

Edited by M_JG
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Although I've been boating for a mere 54 years I have never understood the concept of living on a boat full time unless it was due to financial hardship. I still really enjoy boating but unless you can afford a large boat such as a dutch barge and a freehold mooring you are at the behest of who ever is the mooring operator and are living in a very cramped space. I have never liked mooring in a marina and have only ever done it on transit and it seems more like a car park to me and most of the time you are just looking at someone else's windows. You would probably be much better off buying a park home in a very nice part of the country where you have at least some security and hiring a boat for couple of weeks out of season. Marinas are often off the beaten track without shops and good bus services so you are reliant on driving.

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1 minute ago, Mike Adams said:

Although I've been boating for a mere 54 years I have never understood the concept of living on a boat full time unless it was due to financial hardship. 

I've only been living on boats for 29 yars. I love living in a small space. The smaller the better as long as basic needs are met. I've had quite a few boats much bigger than the current two but these are ideal and regardless of the money I would never change them. 

 

It takes all sorts. I think my aversion to large dwellings comes from when I was little and we had a large country house. It was nice enough but at the end of the day it was pointless to have such comforts. I was always driven to be in the smallest room or a tent in the garden or a shed. 

 

Long live small boats ! 

 

You have to be careful with this as there is a point where basic comforts start disappearing. 

 

Obviously some people live in small boats because of financial problems but this is not always the case. 

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18 minutes ago, magnetman said:

I've only been living on boats for 29 yars. I love living in a small space. The smaller the better as long as basic needs are met. I've had quite a few boats much bigger than the current two but these are ideal and regardless of the money I would never change them. 

 

It takes all sorts. I think my aversion to large dwellings comes from when I was little and we had a large country house. It was nice enough but at the end of the day it was pointless to have such comforts. I was always driven to be in the smallest room or a tent in the garden or a shed. 

 

Long live small boats ! 

 

You have to be careful with this as there is a point where basic comforts start disappearing. 

 

Obviously some people live in small boats because of financial problems but this is not always the case. 

I've only managed 24. The bigger the space the better. But then, I am married.

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I managed to avoid this. She did ask ! 

 

I do accommodate my children several nights a week on my tiny boats as they are both set up as highly luxurious 3 berth units. 

 

The woman lives ashore and yes the children do their washing in the flat ! 

 

So yeah. 

 

As for marinas I have only ever been in one for a single night and never intend to go in another one as not my cup of tea. 

Edited by magnetman
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37 minutes ago, Mike Adams said:

Although I've been boating for a mere 54 years I have never understood the concept of living on a boat full time unless it was due to financial hardship. I still really enjoy boating but unless you can afford a large boat such as a dutch barge and a freehold mooring you are at the behest of who ever is the mooring operator and are living in a very cramped space. I have never liked mooring in a marina and have only ever done it on transit and it seems more like a car park to me and most of the time you are just looking at someone else's windows. You would probably be much better off buying a park home in a very nice part of the country where you have at least some security and hiring a boat for couple of weeks out of season. Marinas are often off the beaten track without shops and good bus services so you are reliant on driving.

Whereas, myself and the missus could never understand owning a boat and living in a boring house. We kept a house for days off for many years in a beautiful location, but we lived on our various boats, in various locations for over 30 years, absolutely the best way to live for us. The last few years we didnt even own a house as we didnt use it enough so got rid. Nearly two years ago now purely due to health reasons we moved off and sold the boat 😒 We now live in a beautiful location and visit the beach a lot etc but its not as good as a boat. Yes its our own freehold, its got a garden in a beautiful location, its even detached ( big deal ) so no party walls, but living on a boat is simply thee best by a long way, IF you realy want to, like we did. However, selling up a house and moving onto a boat in a marina full time would certainly not be what I would advise, YUK!!

We are all different, we did it mid thirties and the missus is 70 next month, I certainly believe its better to live aboard when younger rather than trying it out in later life, but hey ho.

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9 hours ago, Higgs said:

 

Options will be limited. I'd hire a narrowboat first, to at least get used to the environment on the canal

 

  No need to hire as they say they have no real intention of moving, they just want to live on a boat in a Marina. So they could just visit some brokers with widebeams, sit down look out of the window and take in the view. It may be another boat 2ft away or a view to the Elsan/Pump out, Diesel/Water point or Slipway. They could pull out a chair on the stern and have a cuppa or a beer on the bow, the sky’s the limit, but they’ll get the idea.

  There’s no problem being a Floater not a Boater, as the Couple in the Vlog I posted call themselves, but the quality of living aboard will all be down to the moorings location and prime locations with scenic views in Marina’s come with a prime price tag.

  Maybe @Dizz can shed some light on their location/Marina.
 

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19 hours ago, PD1964 said:

Some Marina’s 100% if not a designated widebeam berth as could take 2x Narrowboat berths. Easily could be £4K upwards for residential status. Obviously will depend on location and Marina. Even up North Official widebeam Marina moorings are rare and expensive.

Not always :rolleyes:

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2 hours ago, M_JG said:

When we moored in a marina we usually moored nose in. At least when we did that we could sit on the semi trad stern and look out over some open water. Mooring stern in meant we just looked at the back or front of other boats moored on pontoons over the walkway. The front well deck was enclosed.

 

No need to concern ourselves which way around we were moored on an online mooring. Either way worked.

We sometimes just go to kilnhurst lock, there is a little mooring with lovely views and a good dog walk, doesn't take long to get there and back, sometimes a change is as good as a rest

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4 minutes ago, PD1964 said:

Try finding one with all the benefits of a registered address, in a Proper Marina with all amenities, not many would come in less then 4K a year.

Luckily I don't want that I want trees next to me to pick apples and cherries from, a little garden that I have buried Taff in with Dave's blessing, he talks to us and is easy going and often asks us for help. I have water, make my own electric although I can and do have a landline which is now redundant for the last three weeks, in reality it's the bargain of the century :lol:

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43 minutes ago, peterboat said:

Luckily I don't want that I want trees next to me to pick apples and cherries from, a little garden that I have buried Taff in with Dave's blessing, he talks to us and is easy going and often asks us for help. I have water, make my own electric although I can and do have a landline which is now redundant for the last three weeks, in reality it's the bargain of the century :lol:

  But I suspect your moorings isn’t what the OP wants, they’re after a Marina, maybe they’ll be looking at somewhere like Whilton, Barton Turns or the likes of, where you have a cafe, pub and all the amenities you need, along with a lot of boats to socialise with, as you say not for everyone, but as they’re getting on with no interest in going out it might be the safest/best place for them.

 We can only surmise as they have not come back with an area. 

Edited by PD1964
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57 minutes ago, Jak said:

That sounds like a Park Home to me. If you arent interested in boating, why buy a boat?

 

Hopefully the Hubby will talk her into that idea, as she has talked him into the boat/Marina idea. Maybe she can get one overlooking a lake or river and everyone’s happy.

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